Howdy,
Earlier this year, Chris Vicary from UFL pointed out that the
transition from METS version
1.3 to version 1.4 highlighted a problem with how we've been providing
access to
the METS schema. While prior versions of the METS schema are made
available
at the METS website in 'versioned' subdirectories, the current working
version of
METS is always located at http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/mets.xsd
and does
*not* have a directory on the website for its particular version. When
we moved
from METS 1.3 to 1.4, the new 1.4 schema went into the 'official
current version'
mets.xsd location, while the previous 1.3 version moved to
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/version13/mets.xsd.
It was pointed out that it would be helpful to have the latest version
have its own
'versioned' subdirectory just like the outdated versions, so that users
could if they
so choose point to a specific version of the METS schema at a location
where the
content will not change, even if the schema is outdated by a new
version.
The Editorial Board discussed this at our last meeting and decided this
was a good suggestion. So, henceforth, the most recent version of the
METS primary schema will be available at both the 'current working
version'
URL (http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/mets.xsd) *and* at a version
specific
URL (which for the current version is
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/version14/mets.xsd).
Those wanting a URL which always points to the most current version can
use
the first URL; those wanting a version specific pointer to the 1.4
schema can
use the second.
Jerome McDonough
Digital Library Development Team Leader
Elmer Bobst Library, New York University
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
(212) 998-2425
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